Rhonda Hooks has long held a love for slick cars, but nothing grips her heart like gripping the steering wheel of a Camaro.

“Certain cars just stick out, and a Camaro is one of them,” said Hooks. “I just love the overall look of it … the performance and the speed.”

Hooks, who drives a burgundy Camaro, is a charter member of Jacksonville’s Camaro South chapter. Like other iconic vehicle brands, including Harley Davidson and Mustang, Camaro South brings lovers of all things having to do with the iconic Chevrolet model. Members of the club gather to show off some of their vehicle’s customization (which include paint jobs, motor and light modifications) and go cruising around the county. According to Hooks, though, Camaro South is about more than souped up cars. It’s also about caring for the community.

“Most of what we do we do for the community,” said Hooks.

Under the “Mission Statement” heading of their bylaws, it says “Camaro South is a non-profit organization, controlled by its members, with a purpose to support and give to charitable organizations and the local communities.” The club has done fundraisers for Wounded Warriors, National Night Out and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the latter has a special meaning to Hooks as her sister died of Cystic Fibrosis.

“We’re fortunate to have something nice,” said Hooks. “We want to give back and be good neighbors. We love this community and the people in it.”

Stuart Lankford, one of the founders of Camaro South’s Jacksonville Branch also has a love of high performance, American muscle cars. According to Lankford, cars like the Camaro are performance cars of the people and a perfect, automotive symbol for this country.

“They’re part of America’s heritage,” said Lankford. “High performance cars from Europe are for the elite … Camaro’s are the regular man’s performance car.”

Lankford was a member of the club’s charter chapter in Fayetteville before the Jacksonville branch was created. Lankford said it wasn’t so much the cars displayed at the meetings that impressed him, but the caliber of people that gravitated toward the club.

“I was drawn to Camaro South because of the people, not the cars,” said Lankford. “Sometimes, it’s about showing off, but it’s mostly about camaraderie.”

Lankford also agreed with Hooks about the club’s commitment to community outreach, citing the club’s work with groups including Toys for Tots and Young Marines. Lankford said it’s important for the club to put its emphasis on philanthropy, in part, due to the long standing stigma associated with hot rods. Though Lankford enjoys cruising down the main drags in Jacksonville and racing his Camaro at Coastal Plains Raceway, he says community outreach is at the very heart of the club. According to Lankford, if your motor is the only thing on your mind, Camaro South isn’t for you.

“We’re a Camaro club, but not everyone with a Camaro would want to join,” said Lankford. “We want people who aren’t selfish. We want a family oriented club.”

The club meets on a monthly basis and is not solely for Camaro owners. According to Lankford, anyone with a love for fast cars, good friends and community outreach is invited to join.

“Come hang out with us,” said Lankford. “It’s about muscle cars and friendship. If you have a passion for that, come check us out.”

To find out more about Camaro South Jacksonville, log on to their website at camarosouthjacksonville.com.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Jacksonville Daily News. To contact him, call him at 910-219-8473 or e-mail him at christopher.thomas@ecu.edu.